Bafana coach sad, confused

2011-10-08 22:17

Nelspruit - Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane said he felt like he had failed the nation on Saturday as confusion regarding the rules saw his side miss out on qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Bafana technically finished on top of Group G with a better goal difference to Niger and Sierra Leone, with all three teams on nine points, well clear of bottom-placed Egypt.

In accordance with Confederation of African Football (CAF) rules, however, Niger qualified by virtue of a better head-to-head record, having beaten Sierra Leone and Bafana, while South Africa boasted only a single victory over Niger.

"I'm confused. Just have a look at the table of the group now and see who is top of the group," Mosimane said.

"Put points on the table now and tell me, are you going to put Niger on top now, even with our better goal difference?

"It's very sad for South Africa because the country deserves to be in next year's AFCON. I feel like I have failed."

The South African players, management, and administrators, as well as the spectators and media contingent in attendance, were seemingly all under the impression that Bafana had qualified for the continental tournament.

While the players had celebrated on the field, in the midst of the confusion, their performance at Mbombela Stadium had been woeful.

Mosimane, having heard Egypt were leading Niger in a simultaneous fixture in Cairo, said he had changed his game plan, introducing midfielders Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Oupa Manyisa in the second half as they targeted a draw and the point they thought they needed.

"Do you think I would have left [Lehlohonolo] Majoro on the bench and put on a midfielder if I knew that we needed a goal? It doesn't make sense," Mosimane said.

He also lashed out at CAF, the continental football governing body, for the poor state of football, and what he deemed poor organisation, in Africa.

"Africa is a jungle, my friend," Mosimane said.

"The European and South American formats are so much better because everything is running smooth, but it's very difficult to play in Africa.

"The price is always loaded against teams that are playing away, and CAF should also be helping with good pitches and match officials."

South Africa will automatically qualify, as hosts, for the 2013 AFCON tournament.

SAPA

Comments

neelsf - 2011-10-08 22:29

We as a soccer nation are on our way out within a year, and will never become a force in Africa or the world the way things are going now! Soon we will all start to asking what should be done? We already know the answer but will probably avoid reality.

Really1 - 2011-10-08 23:47

One more thing, I wonder if Pitso is going to be called to Cape Town to explain why he is confused and incompetant.

za101 - 2011-10-09 00:25

blame Desmond Tutut for praying against the ANC so that we have a coach and SAFA that dont even know the rules now

Short memories.
Seems we have forgotten what happened in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

BoB - 2011-10-09 05:57

Also seeing the SAFA boss didn`t know the rules, one wonders why confused leaders are allowed to lead sports teams.Just a free lesson to Safa & Pitso: In any sport you play to WIN to qualify.

1nawty0 - 2011-10-09 06:07

YOU ALL MISSING THE BIG PICTURE......!!!!! We played against Sierra Leone(ranked 110 in the world) and Niger (ranked 147 in the world) and could not beat them........???????
Where is all the money safa made from the world cup to improve our players??????
We need better coaches.....we need better administration!!!!

Gomez - 2011-10-09 06:27

If your aim is to qualify with a goal difference,well,that just aint good enough!Enough is not good enough..

sipholess - 2011-10-09 06:47

I'm confused he says..................join the rest of the SA goverment you clown, you lot are useless.
Wahahahahahahahahahah

markings - 2011-10-09 06:47

1nawty0, and let's not overlook that he replaced players to play for a draw. ALWAYS DO THE MINIMUM REQUIRED and when that does not work out find someone to blame. As Pitso says, this just does not make sense but it would be better if he would realize that before the boat has sailed and not afterwards.

BoB - 2011-10-09 07:06

Thanx marco, but how could all the adminstrators,technical staff and soccer analysts miss such simple stuff?

Saffa Girl - 2011-10-09 07:40

Wiipedia has the rules and regulations of the game, did anyone in administration think of looking it up ahead of the game!!!!!!!!

Johncarlos Biza - 2011-10-09 09:19

@Really1/Boer - the Proteas are 0% black and 0% cup winners. Stay relevant to the topic

Rawter - 2011-10-08 22:30

Aiy Bafana I don't understand why we cannot win you played pretty well in the world cup and at one stage our football was looking positive but it has just taken a turn for the worst and I am not sure why? We spend more than enough money on football but we still lose most of the time! Is it due to bad management? Lazy players? I am not sure but I hope we fix it because it would be nice for the WHOLE country if Bafana could start playing good football again!! Good luck for the future Bafana

Independenth - 2011-10-09 00:28

@Mike, Can you mention these white/indian/coloured players that are overlooked by names please

Atholl - 2011-10-09 01:58

Goal difference has been, for 40:50:60 years ?, the only way to shuffle group logs in many (all?) sports.
The only modification is where away goals count twice - like in champions league - in knockout formats.
The 'head-to-head record' is certainly not a recommended way to decide qualifying on a log because it's a combination of a log & knockout format
Imagine the chaos in a 9-team league and 4 teams finish on equal points for position 2.
Surely CAF should publish, promote, etc their revolutionary, unique system .... at least as organisers? ... to avoid confusion and the bad publicity ??

AMS-Dammer - 2011-10-09 10:10

Johncarlos... I agree... FULLY!

Michael Matusowsky - 2011-10-09 12:32

@independenth see that's my point. I CAN'T name any because there are none playing at club level. There are some playing for the varsity teams but that's about it. Non-black players feel they have no chance to progress professionally in football so they end up going to tennis/rugby/golf/swimming etc.. Instead. Thanks ANC govt for scaring white players away from football.

Utterly poor Mosimane, utterly poor. You are not to feel like you have failed the nation, you did. Being around for so long and you still don't understand how the rules work? What the heck. And further, you do not play to draw, you play to win. So your excuse is utterly unacceptable and I hope to read about your letter of resignation tomorrow. This mediocrity must end somewhere.

nathan - 2011-10-08 22:48

Honestly we did not play best game tonite. Our passes were very wayward. But, in looking at our performance from time Pitso took over, it is very encouraging and promising.

lenand40 - 2011-10-08 22:55

Sorry Pitso, you should have known the rules, Article 14 has been used in two AFCON qualifiers now. It is a disgrace that neither you not the SAFA administration saw it necessary to confirm the qualifying criteria, while Nigeria did exactly that. While I agree that CAF is running football to the ground in Africa, you cannot blame this one on CAF. You, Pitso, failed by targeting a draw at home.

Maano - 2011-10-08 23:01

its all Butterhands KHUNE'S fault, something we should knw. GOD IS NOT A FOOL AND HE LL NEVER BE ONE, BUTTERHANDS FAKED AN INJURY TWO TIMES IN A MATCH,JUST TO WASTE TIME, AND HE EVEN SUGGESTED IT TO THE FANS DAT HE DD DAT ON PURPOSE AND NOW I WAS FEELING PITY FOR THE LEONE STARS NOW BUTTER HANDS U SIN IS HAUNTING THE NATION ITS ALL UR FAULT NXA

thundacat - 2011-10-08 23:11

Sorry Pitso, the rules are simple...you play to win and that's how you qualify.

sbn - 2011-10-09 07:55

nothing else

grant9 - 2011-10-08 23:15

If the coach doesn't even know the rules of the contest, what hope have the players got?

- - 2011-10-08 23:31

Stop talking rubbish, Pitso! You know the rules of the game... Please apologize to the nation for failing to take the team to the finals.

DoublySalmon - 2011-10-08 23:32

haha. pathetic.

emile.eley - 2011-10-09 00:26

Like Pollock and his merry men's brain malfunction in the World Cup hey Salmon. Couldn't count to one. Remember 2003?

DoublySalmon - 2011-10-09 05:59

So no denying their incompetence is there emile?

emile.eley - 2011-10-09 06:12

Stupidity doesn't respect colour Salmon.

DoublySalmon - 2011-10-09 06:21

Why bring colour in to this at all?

pants - 2011-10-09 10:02

@eley I may be suffering from a lack of oxygen, hardly my fault with so many oxygen thieves like yourself around, however I am still capable of making accurate comparisons. The Proteas at least make it to the tournament (CWC) unlike Banana banana who can not even qualify for AFCON.
P.S I am in awe of your use of your copy paste skills.

sipholess - 2011-10-09 10:42

Yes............But pitso realy enjoy's the hotel food.
Wahahahahahaha

Thabani - 2011-10-08 23:42

Mr Pitso, you have to be reasonable here. You and Safa have failed the nation. You should apologise to the entire nation for the misinformation and embarrassment. Every tournament has its rules whether good or bad. These rules were in place before the teams started playing qualifying matches. It seems our administrators chose to ignore them including the coach. It became a case of a blind man leading another blind man, in which the end result was that both fell into a pit. Even the media, including the public broadcaster, our SABC, failed the nation for not interpreting and communicating the rules to the public. CAF is in shambles, but on this one, they are not to blame. The hero turned to be the villain.
Why was Khune wasting time. His behaviour was unprofessional, Pitso must rebuke him publicly. Imagine if that was done by Sierra Leone keeper, it was going to be an outcry, or even a red card. I don't subscribe to changing of couches, but Pitso is to blame for the debacle. Pitso is like a teacher who doesn't know the syllabus/ the curriculum of the subject he teaches nor the exam timetable of his subjects to be written by his students. Shame on you SAFA.
There was no need to be confused here because the rules are clear. We are now a laughing stock of the world for celebrating a loss. Pliz guys, be serious from now on. Don't take anything for granted.
Our players are also to blame for not being aware of the rules as well. At least someone should have seen this coming,

Really1 - 2011-10-08 23:50

You need to be able to read to know the rules.

JustGoblins - 2011-10-08 23:47

Don't feel bad coach! It's trickery in Africa. I don't know what it is - but there seems to be something gunning our blood. Why our soccer keeps failing is a myth!

James - 2011-10-09 00:13

I agree - it is a sad day when the national coach does not understand the rules of the game he is coaching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

emile.eley - 2011-10-09 00:33

A la Proteas. Eish.

James - 2011-10-09 01:45

Yip, can you imagine the chaos if Pitso had to try understand a Duckworth Lewis algorathym table.........that would be true confusion!

sipholess - 2011-10-09 10:53

@emile....Why is it that most black people like yourself, accept......."mediocre" as a norm ?
.

Independenth - 2011-10-09 00:35

We played in these qualifiers for nearly 18months and our coach who's taking home nearly R 800k per month didn't know the rules of the tourney and is blaming CAF, how convenient? He should just do the honourable thing and resign but as he says, this is Africa, he won't.

AMS-Dammer - 2011-10-09 05:45

HAHAHAHAHAHA... ALWAYS SOME ONE ELSES FAULT...BUT the coaches!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Petro - 2011-10-09 00:39

I am just sad. Don't care if the players are white, black or purple. We lost a cricket world cup when Sean Pollock did not know the rules once - against Sri Lanka - and he was stripped of the captaincy. We haven't won a cricket world cup since, though. So screaming for the axing of heads won't help, harder work will be required.

malmesbury - 2011-10-09 00:39

Confused? don't worry dude so am I, I am confused that you are confused!!

AJ2 - 2011-10-09 01:06

It's sad, but what's the confusion about if it is in the CONCAF Rules?

G-spotWizard - 2011-10-10 10:49

The CAF rules are clear.
http://www.cafonline.com/competition/african-cup-of-nations_2012/news/11648-how-group-g-was-determined.html
No body at SAFA and Pitso bother to read them, they assume they know them. These guys jumped and danced like headless chickens celabrating their ignorance and Pitso even congratulations from journalists.
Last year they blamed Joel Santana for the failure to qualify, this year they blame CAF rules.
This is like Julius malema blaming ANC constitution for being confused to justify all his blunders.
This a big circus, ahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahaha

chris.khanye - 2011-10-09 01:09

I remember this guy at boarding school. He would say - study hard and fail soft. He didn't make sense then, but today I reckon he made perfect sense. Bafana-Bafana failed soft to qualify for AFCON 2012. I am not going to start apportioning blame to the obvious hence I am accused of being petty.

Leviathan - 2011-10-09 01:11

CAF u idiots! SA bt Niger 2:0 in SA, while Niger bt SA 2:1 in Niger. So tat means SA go through on head to head, so wat head 2 head r u considering here!!!!

Manu - 2011-10-09 04:22

The head to head is between 3 teams (SA, Niger, Sierra Leone) and not just 2 since all 3 teams have 9 points. Although, SA have a better h2h against Niger, they don't have a better against Sierra Leone, which Niger does.
Therefore, the h2h is between the 3 teams which gives the advantage to Niger over South Africa.
The rules are the rules, and you have to agree that without them, we are just animals.

sipholess - 2011-10-09 11:07

We know Leviathan..........it's difficult trying to keep up and water the garden at the same time.

Ian - 2011-10-09 01:19

and probally no world cup either, you guys should stick to art school you so wonderful at drawing

Damian - 2011-10-09 02:20

He shouldn't be sad on my behalf, I had no expectations for them to begin with. Some people might have had hope, but given their track record... this is nothing new.

CK - 2011-10-09 02:37

A thousand and one excuses!!!

reyreason - 2011-10-09 02:59

Leaves u with this, Support the Bokke !!!

sbn - 2011-10-09 08:10

not necessarily as a South African u support all your national teams regardless of politics or their perfomance

sipholess - 2011-10-09 11:16

@reyreason.........Why is it that most black people accept......."mediocre" as a norm ?

Bryan - 2011-10-09 03:12

No excuses coach. You should know the rules and win games not celebrate a 0-0 draw. I love and respect you after all your years with Supersport and now Bafana. Sadly I think its time for you to resign.

Amr - 2011-10-09 03:29

problem is SA put too much emphasis on the Egypt match even more than their own match....and this virus got to the SA players even one of them got out and started saying that they are untouchable at home and stuff.....really shows you how important is keeping your head on the ground is

Whoosa - 2011-10-09 04:20

blame it on apartheid! What an utter moron! Fot a guy that earns more than zuma, one would expect him to now the rules! Another cirkus run by the the anc!

ikey_tiger - 2011-10-09 04:33

How on earth can our national coach not know the rules and not know what needs to be done to qualify in match day??? Why does he get paid the salary of a politician??? Now I am confused.. and disappointed!

AraBilly - 2011-10-09 05:28

"Do you think I would have left [Lehlohonolo] Majoro on the bench and put on a midfielder if I knew that we needed a goal? It doesn't make sense," Mosimane said.
Hey Mosimane, you need a goal in ANY soccer game to win, WTF!!!

1nawty0 - 2011-10-09 05:33

YOU ALL MISSING THE BIG PICTURE......!!!!! We played against Sierra Leone(ranked 110 in the world) and Niger (ranked 147 in the world) and could not beat them........???????
Where is all the money safa made from the world cup to improve our players??????
We need better coaches.....!!!!

Really1 - 2011-10-09 05:37

A coach can only do so much.

James - 2011-10-09 09:29

@Really1.............and the first thing he should know/understand is the rules of the game!!!!!!!

BoerSeun - 2011-10-09 05:35

Confusion is not good enough. He should be fired. If a world cup winning coach is not good enough for one sport, then all the more reason to fire a losing coach.

Huey Freeman - 2011-10-09 05:45

Eish, how does a poor soccer experience end up with Jacob Zuma?

fishing zoot - 2011-10-09 05:57

THE ANC GRABBED THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE AS SOON AS THEY CAME TO POWER, FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO MILK THE CASH COW, IT IS PLAIN FOR ALL TO SEE WHAT A MESS THEY HAVE MADE OF IT.
TWO ANC PEOPLE AT THE HELM OF SPORTS SA , A TOTAL DISASTER AND MELT DOWN.
TWO ANC PEOPLE AT THE HELM OF CRICKET SA, EVERY DAY ANOTHER COURT BATTLE OVER MISSING MONIES.
A PERSON OF COLOUR RUNNING SA RUGBY, PRINTING MONEY.
IT IS NOT ABOUT THE SPORT IT'S ABOUT HOW TO RAPE THE COFFERS, WHY ELSE DO YOU THINK THEY ARE TRYING SO HARD TO GET THEIR HANDS ON RUGBY, THEIR ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE NEXT LEVEL DOWN THE COMMAND CHAIN ARE INTELLIGENT, ETHICAL AND GOAL DRIVEN ADMINISTRATORS AND WONT LET THEM DESTROY RUGBY LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE THEY GET CONTROL OF.

Carlo Hayes - 2011-10-09 06:05

Bafana shouldnt draw with sera who in the first place. RSA will always have a bad soccer team,get over it. Learn from the springboks. It's not about money but pride playing for your country. Soccer never had it and never will!!!!!!!

hollochris - 2011-10-09 06:09

Chill Pitso, it's the African way...

Trevor - 2011-10-09 06:10

They are consistant in doing one thing....being a national joke....

Deeteem - 2011-10-09 06:18

As with everything else, EPIC FAIL !!

Paniekbevang - 2011-10-09 06:32

"Sad and confused". You sound like the ANC government - eish!!

zmohomed - 2011-10-09 06:36

South African Don't deserve to qualify
Soccer is a sport
the goalkeeper did not play like a sportsman
good always prevails over cheaters!!!!

Dmitri - 2011-10-09 06:54

Coach confused...LOL Bottom line, you did not produce the results and do not deserve to be there next year. SAFA is a joke. The downwars spiral continues...yawn

Zion - 2011-10-09 07:16

I saw only the dying minutes on TV. At the final whistle the South African players went ballistic and I therefore assumed they had won the game. there was 2 or 3 opposition players were protesting or appeared to be doing so: Maybe they know more than our guys and were less confused. On the other hand it does seem strange to expect to gain by a goal-less draw.

Mxhuma - 2011-10-09 07:31

I think Pitso should offer his resignation. Zapiro we need a new cartoon of a confused soccer coach. By the way Bafana can still qualify after today's last qualifiers. There are two slots for two best runners-up, one of which was given to Lybia - just imagine, Lybia has qualified. So after today's games we can still get that slot. The chances are very slim, though. We also demand a comment from Archbishop Emeritus Tutu and Pitso and the president of SAFA need to appear before parliament's Standing Committee on Sports. And Thuli Madonsela should probe this debacle. It is a national disgrace. I do not blame China or the Dalai Lama this this. Those pictures of people celebrating a loss are currently being beamed across the world. As for Khune, words fail me!

Tuinman - 2011-10-09 07:26

Seems the only way for us to qualify for any tournament is by hosting it...

diewitbaas - 2011-10-09 07:30

Hahahahahahahahaha

Tony - 2011-10-09 07:40

Don't worry Bra its an easy mistake, but learn two lessons from it.
1. If you are the National Coach, its probably a good idea to learn the rules of the game.
2. Never, never play for a draw - you only play to win.

sbn - 2011-10-09 08:24

sho, it like that Tony , just learn to with , u don't need to know any rules

Buffalo - 2011-10-09 07:46

If soccer was a real game one would not play for a draw.

Boxxer - 2011-10-09 07:48

Just accept the fact that South Africa aren't good as soccer like Italy aren't good at rugby.

Molefe - 2011-10-09 07:51

Such a sore loser we played dismally we certainly don`t deserve to be in the AFCON Tourney perhaps it`s high time we review our current systems and see whether they are in place with respect to development,quality and zeal to conquer as we always claim that we are the best in Africa and rankings seems to differ.It`s a known fact that Africa is the Jungle and U don`t pack Biltong & Cheese when advancing to the Jungle it`s survival of the fittest and surely presently we are not the best.

Pollenated - 2011-10-09 07:55

Coach has no reason to feel he has let South Africa down. It is up to the players to put effort info winning. They've had more coaches than loaves of bread yet they still don't win. That isn't the fault of the coach. There is too much money in soccer and very little effort by the players.

Mabhulwana - 2011-10-09 09:17

the coach is to blame because he says that he decided to introduce two midfield defensive players intead of Mojoro. And I am paying this guy about R800 000 a month for this strange technical approach to the game.

BnQE - 2011-10-09 07:58

What an UNDERSTATEMENT !!!!

Clive - 2011-10-09 08:00

Once again SAFA showed itself to be run by a bunch of nincompoops. Who goes into a competition - and particularly into a do-or-die match - not knowing all the rules as they apply to any given situation? It's pathetic - as was the soccer Bafana played.